Uncle Tupelo-Critical Mass 11/15/1989-COMPLETE SEGMENT OFFICIAL

Belleville IL's Uncle Tupelo performs live on the 1st episode of St. Louis MO's local-access cable TV program "Critical Mass". From original 3/4" master, posted with permission of Tony Margherita Management. Part of the STL Music Video Preservation Project.

[@miscbws]

Man Jay and Jeff have shaped my vision of music over the past 15 years. I've loved Son Volt and Wilco live many times, but I never got to see Uncle Tupelo. Great to see the boys as kids. Just pure genre defining music. Hard to imagine if these guys had stayed together

[@DelightfulNanotechnology-sf7kh]

I was listening to uncle tipolo when they first came out 8685 somewhere along and narrow.Now i'm fifty eight and I still dig them

[@mikec915]

Good segment on what it used to be like when an organically formed band started out at the grass roots level. Not some sort of corporate creation. Just a few guys struggling to get gigs and make records in the St. Louis metro area. They had no idea where it was going to take them back in the late 80's.

[@danielsmith4039]

My go to band for 20 years or more. I’m from St. Louis and live in Chicago now, still waiting on Jeff T to swing by and have a beer lol

[@ronfrankl]

This is fantastic! It's like finding the holy grail for UT fans. Thanks for sharing this.

[@daveclinton4945]

I've never heard Jay Farrar say so much!

[@riabouchinska]

Holy shit, Jay's voice is like 30 years older than he is

[@tia2all501]

I MO to me he’s an old soul. His songwriting is so deep and introspective. To me the lyrics are everything and I love his music 👍

[@joecharles5368]

That's why I think he was the leader then. A bit more Americana. In the 2010s+ Jeff had Nels! And they were big enough to play down the road from me at Red Rocks. I'm not sorry. I never cared for people giving their children the Free leg up. See tRUMPS etc. Tweedy' turned me off. Jay always has that roots feel in his soul.

[@owenwilberforce6138]

What is cool is I hear the Firehose influences in the guitar and bass interactions. Harmonies are cool and it has aged well.

[@strummedout]

Dude, yes!

[@jessicagowen]

I love this!!! They are so young, and yet they were making music that would continue to grab the hearts of fans so many years later. Long after they broke up…

[@soulvigilante]

One of the highlights of my late teens was getting to touch that black Telecaster. I felt like I was touching the Shroud of Turin.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Like I remember see them Rolling Stone mag as up and coming...brilliant that they landed smack dab in the middle of grunge

[@dathorndike4908]

Finally! A professional version of the complete segment. Thank you so much Tony!

[@tia2all501]

I just love this Jay and Jeff are so happy and young still love them 25 years later

[@davebosworth1778]

35, you mean? 😊

[@tia2all501]

@@davebosworth1778 Yes my bad. Sorry about that!!

[@zalbedo]

Wow. I spent so much time blasting No Depression but didn't see them live until Anodyne. I never got to hear these songs so raw. Cool little break in "factory belt"

[@jimsteele2072]

This shows how these guys continuing a Poco, Pure Praire League, Gram Parsons style and making it bigger. I see the Lennon McCartney thing in Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy in hindsight. The breakup of UT and the bands that ensued make that clear. Great Video. 👍

[@joeski734]

Together they were more than the sum of their parts, that's for sure!

[@AnnaK-js9xr]

This is pure gold!!! Thank you for posting. So much talent, so young!! On cable access show, no less!!

[@dkyrus]

I'm so glad there's finally a clear version of this classic segment, complete with hokey intro and permed hair. They were just babies then, but oh how they grew!

[@joeski734]

They sound so good together.

[@auberjean6873]

Wow, thank you for posting this, OldSchoolSTL. Not familiar with them. Now I know why they sound familiar!

[@songshare3489]

High energy country-punk-rock! Loved dancing to these guys a few times at Cicero's Restaurant, 1989.

[@Jameslopez5682]

Hello share how are you doing hope you’re having a great time with your family may God bless you and your family

[@kpm1969]

WOW! Thanks for uploading this great early footage. Fantastic stuff!

[@DanSalig-jq5mu]

Top notch upload! Captured the early grunge vibe, guided by voices, the pursuit of happiness, pavement, beat happenings, hash

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

It’s hard for kids to imagine that bands got famous off of hard work and non stop touring. You weren’t just able to sit at home and upload music to the entire world. This is why music was so good pre 1999, only the most talented, hardest working and greatest sounding bands made it. You had to earn ever fan and every show.

[@andrewptob]

There are still kids that love music, but the industry is dead. Don’t blame the kids.

[@AmeriFanPicker]

Bingo

[@GeoffreyGentryMusic]

Yes, anyone can upload a song for the world to see, but if you want it to go anywhere, you still have to bust your ass.

[@redadamearth]

@@GeoffreyGentryMusic Not like you did back then, man. Doesn't even compare. It was an entirely different universe in terms of getting known as a band outside of your own state.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

​@@coffee5736 pay no heed to the bitter old fuck who destroyed our country and wants to blame us. If you like this music, check out Ian Noe sometime, hes of the same spirit but more singer songwriter

[@SoulWaveLa1]

Great stuff. thx for post how fucking cool would it be to see these 2 play together again .

[@scottwebster695]

It's over 30 years and Critical Mass exposed me to Bad Brains, Jane's Addiction, Skinny Puppy, Uncle Tupelo and other music that wasn't on MTV. Thank you. 88.1 KDHX radio, Vintage Vinyl, Papa Ray are helping to make living in Trump-land Missouri bearable. God Bless you.

[@aarond23]

The Best part about Uncle Tupelo is they didn't just immediately turn into a 'Nirvana Light' band and try to go super commercial

[@Timothay2]

Great piece!! Love the fact that there is a sink full of dirty dishes behind them in the interview :D

[@jimmythefish]

This is so awesome.

[@nexpose1]

Uploader, you are beautiful and awesome!! :D Most precious video in the world to me so thanks beyond belief!! So freakin' happy about this. Finally the master tape of this.

[@eternalpause]

Holy shit, great footage!

[@ogami1972]

Damn, man... babies.... that's really cool, they were so little and were making something so big. Crazy.

[@Brokenkingpins]

I thought they were college kids. I saw them somewhere around this time. I was like 12, I did not get it. I wanted minutemen, ironically, I was watching the Midwest Minutemen. My youthful dismissal was an amazing loss.

[@marklechman2225]

They've never been as good apart as they were together.

[@hooskerdu1]

Gotta disagree. While I love Uncle Tupelo, I don't believe they put out anything that was as good as Son Volt's "Trace," "Wide Swing Tremolo," or Wilco's "Being There," "Summerteeth," or "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." Even "AM" was a very solid effort.

[@dlawlis]

I feel the same way but I have to admit that I'm very biased. They changed my musical landscape by re-introducing me to country and roots-oriented music. I'm glad I got to see them a few times before they broke up.

[@thedevilwuster]

Must disagree also. I got a few chances to jam with Jeff around the break up time and his ideas for Wilco seemed almost unobtainable to me. Kind of a whole new art movement of musical deconstruction that didn't think I could wrap my head around so I never even mentioned anything about auditioning and even though I'm sure I'd been fired a long time ago I know regret not saying I was open to it. Wilco is levels about UT in taking what they do and really doing it to the fullest in my opinion. I think Jay here's mostly him in everything he does and Jeff imagines a community and I think that's why Son Volt isn't bigger than it is and why UT had to break up.

[@dlawlis]

I think it's pretty subjective really. But one thing that cannot be denied is that UT had a far more significant impact on music as a whole. They had an entire genre named after one of their songs after all. You can't say the same for either of the spin-off bands.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Jay was wayyyy better at writing songs, but Jeff was better at making money and being more commercial, but soul beats money everytime

[@lumaz71]

super!!! thanks

[@doriwiljt]

Jeff and his adorable shrug...

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Jeff is insufferable and so egotistical its barely tolerable

[@timmcPherrin]

my god so young

[@thomasmartin2663]

husker du on country.

[@jimmyhoffa2530]

Dede if your out there I need you in my life like right now

[@52barney]

what makes you think she looks anything like that now

[@newyork1401]

good sounds

[@Mikem-mq2hh]

ahhhh public access TV kicks ass

[@cave_dweller6]

Jeff looks like Jason Lowenstein from Sebadoh.

[@zurichgnome6073]

Guess I'll be the one to shout out Dee Dee's pants since nobody else has.

[@davidmckelvey2601]

Jeff looks so young here!

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

RADICAL!!!

[@SirThomasDunning]

adorable

[@80sruler]

Tweedster looks 12 here - was he in Almost Famous ?

[@dawnrhodes6409]

80sruler that's hilarious. He does look a lot like Patrick Fugit here.

[@wilfwilfman]

Hmm, should I get a haircut? Nawww Fugit

[@krisscanlon4051]

I know it's young Cameron Crowe

[@jezmez68]

Major bands like Fetch 'n Bones? Never heard of 'em.

[@timbrady6473]

Cowbell ! Never heard about these guys before tonight. First song splits it right down the middle of Tom Petty and Nirvana. Cowbell man !

[@jamescourier1545]

I actually saw Jay and Jeff look at each other here, unlike in their later years.

[@pedru32]

played a gig with Jay Farrar and Son Volt this summer, still a grumps didnt speak to anyone in any of the bands. His band on the other hand are really nice dudes! Learned a ton from his steel player!

[@newyork1401]

Jeff's bass is cool

[@DelightfulNanotechnology-sf7kh]

Always Doug. Underground sound. Bar it always will be underground sounderground sound where the best music is you write you damn right

[@n.blacke1948]

I thought Jay and Jeff were brothers before I knew who they were. They look alot alike in certain ways.

[@hazysativa3045]

How bad can their rift be to not write one more album and tour so all of us who missed the party can get a chance to see UT live. Do it for the fans guys!

[@tia2all501]

I don’t think that’s going to happen. Jay doesn’t talk about the UT day’s much if ever. But Jay wrote a book short stories about his life experiences. It’s to me got some great stories. Who would have thought Jay would have a sense of humor he seems so serious to me. But the one time he mentioned Jeff the story would piss any man off big time!! The book is called Falling Cars And Junk Yard Dogs

[@brianwood8516]

Rad! Anybody know if Jay played the Tele primarily during the Uncle Tupelo days?

[@ronanmg]

He played it a lot but he mainly played his sg junior and his sg with double humbuckers. As far as I know.

[@dunnright00]

"Graveyard Song"

[@neaituppi7306]

Jay is only 9 days younger than me.

[@mfpendle]

Meaty bass

[@davidstone7138]

Jay drinkin' Meister Brau, man I miss the 80's

[@psst...heyyou6508]

🤮

[@patrickwilliams9293]

Holy Crap if Jay drinking a Meister Brau - YUUUK :)

[@jamescourier1545]

LOL- Meister Brau was THE cheap beer we used to buy in college back in the day!

[@52barney]

They were out of Brau Meister

[@Andyface79]

That perm tho

[@michaelharrington75]

Interview starts at 2:10

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

Thin Tweedy

[@LuaBloe]

Very nice tunes and mood...Kind of Meat Puppet-ish : )

[@LeeB9999]

More cowbell.

[@tylerthompson1842]

It’s actually pretty decent stuff, especially that last number. The leads gotta good southern grittiness to his vocal. A little Kurt Cobain “Plateau” thing goin on.

[@masterpiecelacquers2766]

Kurt Cobain didn't write Plateau.

[@9rjharper]

Yeah, I’d say they were pretty good.

[@joeski734]

Is there a better working-class song than this?

[@pegboy77]

Were all the songs on “No Depression” played on Jay’s black tele or was it a SG or LP jr? I think the tele was Hennemans and it got stolen?

[@disgustinriffs]

Jay recorded No Depression with the same SG Jr that was used to record Dinosaur Jr, courtesy of the studio

[@davidstewart1743]

i wonder if hullabaloo is still in business. haha

[@mikec915]

Nope. They made it well into the mid 2000's. It was a cool store.

[@roberthanjian9044]

Fuck off dude

[@JacksonPolyp]

@@roberthanjian9044 why don't you fuck off

[@zalbedo]

I used to get a print catalog from hullabaloo back in the early 90s.

[@philwillett9102]

Meh, DEVO did it first